Thwack! I felt the bundle of birch twigs crash against my offered cheeks and my breath leave my lungs for moments before I could cry out.
“Aghhhhhh!”
“Count the strokes!” ordered the sergeant, ‘and be sure to thank Mrs. Leary for each one.”
My mouth was so dry I could hardly speak. ‘One! Thank you Mrs. Leary.”
When the second stroke landed I saw pieces of birch bark fly through the air.
This time my assailant had struck the very tops of my thighs just under the overhang of my cheeks and the pain was even more excruciating. My whole body shuddered but the stout structure held me in check.
“Ohhhhhhhhh!” If anything my scream was louder this time and there was a lengthy pause before I could shout, ‘Two! Thank you Mrs. Leary.”
I felt sweat break out all over my body and drip from my ar
